Our research team has a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research experience and expertise across a range of topics. Learn more about our team below:
Dr Laura Hayes – Research and Evaluation Manager
Dr Laura Hayes, PhD, BA(Hons) B Comm is Manager of Research and Evaluation at Mind. She is a registered Psychologist and has been a researcher for over 20 years in the mental health field.
She has directed the design and implementation of outcome measures at Mind for supporting client recovery, improving service delivery and demonstrating Mind’s impact. As a result, Mind is an industry-leader in utilising real-time data to measure psychosocial mental health outcomes. She has a keen focus on knowledge translation, ensuring research findings are incorporated into improved service design and delivery. Her areas of interest include psychosocial interventions, implementation science, family inclusive practice, the NDIS, program logic, recovery and social inclusion.
She is author of over 30 peer reviewed articles as well as a groundbreaking report on psychosocial supports for early intervention in the NDIS. She is a member of the advisory group for the NHMRC-funded Quitlink smoking cessation research, and ARC funded Borderline Personality as Social Phenomena Research at RMIT, and associate investigator for the NHMRC funded project with Monash University “Connecting for better health”.
Dr Edith Botchway – Research Analyst
Dr Edith Botchway is a Neuropsychology researcher whose research focuses on understanding mental health, sleep, and quality of life outcomes in individuals with neurological conditions and in people experiencing mental health concerns.
She is a Research Analyst on this team, where she contributes towards data analysis, service evaluation activities, and the development and delivery of evidence-based care for people living with mental health concerns.
Helena Roennfeldt – Lived Experience Researcher
Helena is a lived experience researcher and PhD candidate.
Her research explores the experiences of mental health crisis and formal mental health crisis responses.
Helena has researched extensively on the development of the Lived Experience workforce in Australia. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, Forensic Mental Health, Suicidology and Mental Health Practice. Helena has over 20 years’ experience working in the mental health sector and her academic, practical and lived experience informs her knowledge and skills base in qualitative research.